Evaluating the effect of comprehensive land consolidation on spatial reconstruction of rural production, living, and ecological spaces

• Clarifying the logic of land consolidation driving rural spatial reconstruction. • Constructing an indicator system for the effect of rural spatial reconstruction. • Land comprehensive consolidation driving rural spatial reconstruction effects is low. • Differential comprehensive land consolidation strategies are proposed. China’s long-standing dual-track institutions, which differentiate between urban and rural areas, have prioritized urban development, exacerbating the urban–rural divide and contributing to the ongoing decline of rural regions. In response, the “Comprehensive Land Consolidation”(CLC) policy has garnered significant attention from both academics and policymakers. However, there is an urgent need to assess the effectiveness of CLC in revitalizing rural areas. This study aims to quantitatively evaluate the impact of CLC on the reconstruction of rural spaces, including production, living, and ecological spaces (PLES). We examined CLC’s role in shaping rural spaces by developing an evaluation index system and employing the TOPSIS method along with obstacle degree models to measure its effects. Our findings reveal that CLC’s impact on rural spatial reconstruction in Chongqing is D3 (good) and varies across regions. The reconstruction of production and living spaces is more pronounced in metropolitan areas compared to rural-dominated regions in the northeast and southeast. Conversely, the effect on ecological spaces is slightly greater in remote areas than in metropolitan areas. The primary obstacle to effective reconstruction is the vitality of production spaces, though the factors influencing reconstruction differ across regions. Therefore, different regions should adopt differentiated CLC strategies. The main urban area should focus on ecological spatial governance and agricultural modernization infrastructure; the northeastern region should strengthen public service infrastructure and improve production and living pollution treatment facilities; and the southeastern region should moderately concentrate the population and improve the efficiency of services, as well as protect and excavate the cultures of ethnic minorities.